By Todd Hatton
Murray, KY – A spokeswoman for Republican US Senator Rand Paul says he's dropping his "hold" on a bill to toughen federal safety regulation of oil and gas pipelines. Spokeswoman Moira Bagley says Paul has won agreement from the bill's sponsors to add an amendment closing a gap in regulations that allows older pipelines to escape safety requirements. Paul was elected to the Senate last year in part on the strength of his opposition to new federal regulations. A Senate committee approved the pipeline bill without opposition in May. Paul was the only senator in either party to object to Senate Democrats' plan to bring the bill to the floor for a vote using unanimous consent procedures to avoid a lengthy debate.